Johnny Golding is a Professor at the Royal College of Art (RCA), School of Arts & Humanities. His career spans roles such as Director of the Centre for Fine Art Research at Birmingham City University, Professor of Philosophy in the Visual Arts & Communication Technologies (2000–2012), and honorary Professorship in Philosophy and Imaging at Dundee School of Art (2009). Born in New York, he holds a PhD from the Universities of Toronto and Cambridge. Education : - PhD in Philosophy from the Universities of Toronto and Cambridge. - Earlier studies in Toronto and New York. Research Interests : Golding’s work explores post-Newtonian analytics, new materialisms, and the erotics of sense as 'radical matter.' His interdisciplinary approach bridges art, philosophy, and 'wild sciences' like AI, robotics, and quantum theory. Key themes include data proliferation's societal impact, emergent systems, and the interplay between art and technology. Recent Articles & Projects : Focus on Data Loam (2020), exploring future knowledge systems through art and science collaborations. Recent works address radical empathy, distributed intelligence, and the ethics of AI. His 2018 opera Entanglement: The Opera and installations like Of The Thick and the Raw exemplify his practice-led philosophy. Grants & Leadership : - Led the Data Loam project (FWF-PEEK funded), involving over 20 artists and scholars. - PI for AiDesign Labs on generative AI at RCA. Labs & Collaborations : - Radical Matter Lab (2017–2018), a pedagogical experiment at RCA. - Collaborations with institutions like the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the British Library.
Sarah Bracke is a Professor in Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam . Her work critically examines intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and secularism, particularly in European contexts. She is deeply engaged in analyzing systemic crises—capitalist, nationalist, and ecological—and their impact on marginalized communities. Current Affiliation : University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Research Focus : Gender theory, reproductive rights, anti-LGBTQ+ mobilizations, secularism, and the political dimensions of care economies. Bracke’s research emphasizes the deliberate erosion of gender, reproductive, and LGBTQ+ rights, often highlighting transnational collaborations among far-right and mainstream political forces. She connects these issues to broader crises, including climate change, capitalist precarity, and nationalist rhetoric. Her work advocates for feminist coalitions that transcend traditional boundaries, prioritizing care ethics and collective solidarity over exclusionary frameworks. Her recent publications explore topics like the racialized dimensions of reproductive politics, the secularist underpinnings of European ‘Muslim Question’ discourse, and the role of academia in resisting oppressive systems. Although no specific awards or advisees are mentioned in the text, Bracke’s scholarship consistently bridges feminist theory, critical race analysis, and critiques of neoliberalism, urging transformative responses to global crises.
Michael Classens is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the School of the Environment, University of Toronto , specializing in social and environmental justice within food systems. He serves as Undergraduate Associate Director, emphasizing community-based learning and integration of Indigenous and community knowledge into pedagogy. Education: PhD in Environmental Studies (York University, 2015), MA (University of Windsor), BA (Western University) His research explores environmental injustice/racism , food systems governance , and prefigurative learning spaces , particularly through campus food initiatives and critical cartography. He has published extensively on food solidarity, racialized food insecurity, and transformative pedagogies. Recent publications (2021–2024) analyze neoliberal responses to food crises, anti-racist food system frameworks, and campus foodscapes as sites of radical pedagogy. Keywords span environmental justice, critical race theory, urban agriculture, and labor studies. Scientific Awards: 2024 A&S Outstanding Teaching Award (Early Career, Faculty of Arts and Science) He advocates for informal and prefigurative learning , connecting classroom knowledge to real-world justice movements. His work bridges academic research with grassroots activism, focusing on equitable food systems and decolonizing educational practices.
Naomi Murakawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the reproduction of racial inequality in American politics, particularly in the realms of crime policy and the carceral state. Her scholarly work bridges political science, critical race theory, and legal studies. Key areas of interest include mass incarceration, racial liberalism, the historical development of crime control, and the paradoxes of reform within the criminal justice system. Her research, reflected in publications such as The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America and numerous journal articles, reveals how ostensibly progressive policies have contributed to the expansion of the prison system. Themes across her work include the racialized foundations of state power, the limitations of liberal reform, and the structural persistence of racial inequality in law and governance. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Fellowship from Columbia Law School’s Center for the Study of Law and Culture Fellowship from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Program Professor Murakawa has advised graduate students and contributed to major scholarly and public conversations on race and justice. Her work has been supported by significant research grants and fellowships, enabling deep historical and theoretical analysis of the American carceral state. She is a leading voice in interdisciplinary debates on decarceration, abolition, and transformative justice. She is affiliated with research initiatives focused on race, law, and inequality, contributing to collaborative teams examining the intersections of policy, history, and social movements. Her ongoing scholarship continues to challenge conventional narratives about crime, punishment, and racial progress in the United States.
Inga Kristina Trauthig is a dual-affiliation academic serving as a Research Professor at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and a Visiting Fellow at King’s College London’s Institute of Middle Eastern Studies (IMES). She holds a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, focusing on Libya, and an MLitt in Middle East Security from the University of St Andrews. Her research spans terrorism, disinformation, emerging technologies, and Middle Eastern political dynamics, with particular expertise in Salafism and security sector analysis. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and policy-focused articles, including work in Conflict, Security & Development and Political Research Quarterly . Her consulting work addresses causes of war and insecurity for UN bodies, governments, NGOs, and private firms. She has provided oral evidence to the UK Parliament and appeared on platforms like BBC’s Digital Human and Lawfare Blog . Trauthig convenes King’s MENA Research Group within IMES and has held student representation roles across faculty levels. Her research highlights include analyzing generative AI’s political risks, disinformation strategies in MENA, and the role of messaging apps in authoritarian governance.
Mienah Z. Sharif serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of California - Berkeley in the School of Public Health - Division of Community Health Sciences, with an affiliate appointment in Epidemiology at the University of Washington. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of California Los Angeles (2016), an MPH from the same institution, and a BA in Economics and Government from Smith College. PhD, University of California Los Angeles, 2016 MPH, University of California Los Angeles BA, Economics and Government, Smith College Dr. Sharif employs a social justice, global, and intersectional approach to examining health inequities among racial and ethnic minority groups across the lifecourse. Her research centers on structural factors, differential exposure to adverse social conditions, and psychosocial factors influencing health and wellbeing. She extends her work on racism and discrimination to examine religious identity as structural inequality through the racialization of religion. As a mixed-methods researcher, she prioritizes community-engaged research aimed at guiding health and social policies addressing systemic inequities. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on structural determinants of health, with recent work examining Palestinian health equity, immigrant and refugee health during the pandemic, and critical race approaches to health research. Her articles span public health, epidemiology, and social justice domains, with increasing emphasis on practical applications for policy development and health equity interventions. Dr. Sharif's scholarly contributions reflect a commitment to addressing health disparities through rigorous research grounded in critical race theory and social justice frameworks. Her work bridges academic research with community needs, emphasizing the importance of structural interventions to address systemic health inequities.
Rana Jaleel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at the University of California, Davis, within the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds multiple leadership roles, including Chair of the Cultural Studies Graduate Group, Chair of the Designated Emphasis in Feminist Theory and Research, Faculty Advisor for the Sexuality Studies Minor, and Co-Director of HATCH: The Feminist Arts & Sciences Initiative. She is also a 2021–2024 College of Arts & Sciences Dean's Faculty Fellow. Education: Ph.D. in American Studies, New York University J.D., Yale Law School MFA in Poetry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Rana Jaleel’s research centers on the politics of evidence, examining how harm is recognized or erased in legal, cultural, and political contexts. Her work critically engages with reproductive labor, race, gender, sexuality, property, and international law. She draws from feminist theory, critical ethnic studies, legal studies, and decolonial thought to interrogate the intersections of power, knowledge, and violence. Her interdisciplinary approach is reflected in her contributions across law, cultural studies, and creative writing. Her publications and editorial projects reveal a strong focus on racial capitalism, settler colonialism, queer/trans of color critique, and feminist legal theory. She explores how international legal frameworks for sexual violence are shaped by imperial and racial power. Her work frequently appears in journals such as Critical Ethnic Studies Journal , Cultural Studies , and Brooklyn Law Review . She has co-edited special issues on democracy, gendered citizenship, and racial capitalism, demonstrating a commitment to collective scholarly work. Scientific Awards: Author of Color First Book Award from Duke University Press for The Work of Rape Rana Jaleel is actively involved in academic service and mentorship. As Co-Director of HATCH and leader of the Write the Future! Lab, she fosters creative and critical scholarship among undergraduate students, particularly from women/queer/trans of color and transnational feminist perspectives. She serves on the Editorial Collective and Board of The Critical Ethnic Studies Journal and is a member of the American Association of University Professors’ Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure. Her leadership extends to admissions and curriculum development in interdisciplinary programs. She is co-editing a forthcoming issue of South Atlantic Quarterly on 'Queer/Trans of Color Transits and the Global Imaginaries of Racial Capitalism' and continues to develop projects that bridge creative practice, legal critique, and feminist theory.
Naomi Rogers, Ph.D. (She/Her) is Professor of the History of Medicine in the Section of the History of Medicine and the Program in the History of Science and Medicine at Yale University. She holds courtesy appointments in the History Department and the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, and serves on Yale's Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI Affairs. Professor Rogers teaches undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, regularly lecturing on the history of AIDS, reproduction, health economics, eugenics, nutrition, disability, and health activism. Professor Rogers' educational background includes: PhD in History from University of Pennsylvania (1986) MA from University of Pennsylvania (1986) BA in Music from Melbourne University (1980) BA with Honors from Melbourne University (1979) Her research focuses on 20th and 21st century history of medicine with emphasis on health inequities and social justice. Professor Rogers' historical interests span gender and health, disease and public health, disability studies, feminism, alternative medicine, health policy, and health activism. Her work critically examines the intersection of medical practices with social movements, particularly how marginalized communities have challenged medical orthodoxy throughout American history. She has published extensively in journals such as American Journal of Public Health, Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Journal of Medical Humanities, Radical History Review, Social History of Medicine, and Women and Health. Professor Rogers' recent scholarship demonstrates a consistent focus on the historical dimensions of contemporary health issues, particularly vaccine politics, abortion history, and community health activism. Her publications reveal patterns of resistance to medical authority, the role of race and gender in shaping health outcomes, and the historical roots of current health justice movements. Her work bridges academic history with public engagement, as evidenced by her frequent media commentary on COVID-19 and other health issues in outlets including BBC Radio, CNN, Huffington Post, National Public Radio, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Among her notable recognitions: AAHN's Lavinia L. Dock Award for Exemplary Historical Research for 'Polio Wars: Sister Kenny and the Golden Age of American Medicine' (2014) Presenter of the AAHM's Garrison Lecture: 'Radical Visions of American Medicine: Politics and Activism in the History of Medicine' (2017) Professor Rogers has been actively involved in academic leadership and mentoring. She has served as Director of Graduate Studies for the 2022-23 academic year, Chair of the Women's Faculty Forum, and Liaison to the Committee on Status of Women in Medicine. Her service extends to editorial boards including the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences since 2018. She has also contributed to public understanding of medicine through consultations for documentaries including 'The Polio Crusade' (PBS), 'On the Basis of Sex' (Focus Features), and 'War on Science' (in process). Currently, Professor Rogers serves on the Medical School's OBGYN 'Dobbs' Sessions Planning Committee, which has organized webinars for the Yale community, and was co-organizer of the history-themed session 'Rooted in History: Abortion, Law and American Health Care.' She is working on her book project 'Health Radicalism and the Humanization of American Medicine' (under contract with Oxford), examining critics of medical orthodoxy since 1945 including civil rights, consumer, and feminist activists. She also conducts ongoing research on antisemitism in American medicine in the decades before and after World War II.
Ashley D. Farmer is an Associate Professor of History and African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches courses on African American women's history, the Black Freedom Movement, and Black archival practices. Her scholarly work centers on Black women's intellectual production and activism, particularly during the Black Power era. Her research interests include African American History, African American Women's History, Black Political Thought, Intellectual History, and Radical Politics. Farmer's work challenges traditional narratives that marginalize Black women's contributions to social movements, demonstrating how Black women shaped and transformed political ideologies through intellectual work, community organizing, and cultural production. Farmer's scholarship reveals trends across Black women's intellectual history, showing how they developed intersectional frameworks for understanding oppression and liberation long before the term 'intersectionality' was coined. Her work connects historical activism with contemporary movements, highlighting the continuity of Black women's political thought across generations. Stone Book Award finalist Darlene Clark Hine Award honorable mention Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Award honorable mention Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study fellowship National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship Whiting Foundation fellowship Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer Farmer has advised numerous graduate students and served as a founding leader of the African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS). She is a regular blogger for Black Perspectives and co-editor of both the Black Power Series (NYU Press) and the Black Women History Series (UNC Press). Her research has been supported by significant grants from the Radcliffe Institute, NEH, and Whiting Foundation. Farmer directs research initiatives through the African American Intellectual History Society and contributes to the Black Perspectives online platform, which serves as a hub for scholars of African American history. Her work connects academic research with public engagement through media appearances on NPR, Al-Jazeera, and in publications like The New York Times and Washington Post.
Fabio Sabatini is a Full Professor of Political Economy at Sapienza University of Rome and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). His work focuses on the intersection of communication technologies, social capital, and political behavior. He teaches Political Economy and Economics of Sustainable Development, and actively engages in public discourse through Substack newsletters like The Civic Economist . His research explores how digital media shapes societal values, economic outcomes, and political preferences. Notable themes include the behavioral impacts of social media, the role of social capital in crises, and the geopolitical tensions between the US and EU under Trump's administration. Sabatini critiques policies that undermine academic freedom and democratic institutions, frequently analyzing authoritarian trends in global governance. He maintains an extensive publication record with over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on topics like terrorism radicalization, disaster politics, and digital economy effects. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis, often addressing contemporary policy challenges. Sabatini's academic networks include collaborations with institutions like the European Commission and IZA. His Substack articles and social media activity reflect a commitment to public engagement, translating complex economic concepts for broader audiences while critiquing populist policies and advocating for evidence-based governance.
Brenna Bhandar is an Associate Professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, specializing in property law, critical theory, colonial legal history, and critical race feminism. Previously, she was a Reader in Law and Critical Theory at SOAS, University of London, and held faculty positions at Queen Mary School of Law, Kent Law School, and the University of Reading Law School. She has also held visiting appointments at L'École des hautes études en science sociales (Paris) and Stellenbosch University Faculty of Law (South Africa). BA (Hons.) in South Asian Studies and History from University of Toronto (1996) LLB from UBC (1999) PhD from Birkbeck School of Law, University of London (2007) Professor Bhandar's research focuses on the intersections of property law, critical theory, race, gender, and colonialism. Her work examines how property laws and processes of racialization are intertwined within colonial and post-colonial contexts. She is particularly interested in the historical and contemporary effects of dispossession on society, especially on marginalized communities. Her research spans theoretical, transdisciplinary, and historically situated approaches to understanding law's role in shaping racial and gender formations. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on property as a central mechanism for understanding colonialism, racial capitalism, and dispossession. The articles demonstrate increasing attention to contemporary issues like housing markets, neoliberal legal transformations, and Palestine solidarity, while maintaining deep engagement with foundational questions about property, race, and law. Her work spans multiple disciplines including law, political theory, postcolonial studies, and critical race studies. Professor Bhandar is actively involved in supervising doctoral and post-doctoral researchers working in areas related to property, critical theory, race, geography, and colonialism. She has received funding from Allard Law Faculty and the Independent Social Research Foundation (Europe) for her research projects. She currently leads research projects on residential housing markets in the UK context, the doctrine of preemption in British Columbia, and is organizing a workshop on 'Dispossession and the Commons' with scholars from Europe, the UK, and the US. She serves on the editorial collective of Radical Philosophy and is a research associate at the Centre for Palestine Studies, SOAS, University of London.
Dr. Sarah Crook is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Swansea University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She specializes in modern British history with a focus on women's history, student mental health, and the history of medicine. PhD in History from Queen Mary University of London MSt in Women's Studies from Keble College, Oxford Bachelor's degree in History from University of Sussex Her research explores histories of feminism , LGBTQ+ activism , motherhood , university communities , and mental health from postwar Britain to the 1980s. She is the director of GENCAS (Centre for Research into Gender and Culture in Society), an interdisciplinary research center. Recent publications analyze: Gendered undercover policing in the 1970s Humor as feminist resistance Neoliberalism and academic compassion Student loneliness across decades She has secured grants from Wellcome Trust , Arts and Humanities Research Council , and Medical Research Council (U-Belong project). Her teaching includes modules on Radical Histories , History of Sex and Gender , and Making History .
Jesse Arseneault is an Assistant Professor at Concordia University, specializing in African Cultural Studies. His research interrogates the intersections of animality, postcolonialism, queer theory, and posthumanism, with a focus on representations of human-animal relations in African cultural texts. He supervises graduate students in English, Humanities, and Individualized Programs, and teaches courses on postcolonial literature, decolonization, and multispecies ethics. PhD in English and Cultural Studies, McMaster University (2016) MA in English Literature, McMaster University (2010) BA in English Language and Literature, Brock University (2008) His current manuscript, Africa's Animalities , critiques anthropocentric frameworks in postcolonial discourse, while recent publications examine pestilence, reproductive control in animal trials, and South African student protests. He co-founded the Society, Politics Animals, and Materialities (SPAM) center and edits special issues on African cultural studies. Key research themes include: Postcolonial critiques of human-animal binaries Queer and posthumanist approaches to African literature Multispecies resilience and environmental justice Decolonial pedagogy and political movements Scientific contributions: FRQSC grant (2020-2024) for "The Radical Collectivity of Pests" Co-authored works on animal trials and resilience frameworks Editorial leadership in Critical Arts and Studies in Social Justice
Lee C. Bollinger is Columbia University's President Emeritus and Seth Low Professor of the University, holding full-time faculty status. He earned a B.S. from the University of Oregon (1968) and J.D. from Columbia Law School (1971). His career spans over five decades in academia and legal leadership, marked by transformative initiatives in higher education. As Columbia's longest-serving Ivy League president (2002–2023), he spearheaded projects like the Manhattanville campus expansion, the Columbia Climate School, and global engagement through the Columbia Global Centers. A renowned First Amendment scholar, Bollinger authored influential works on free speech and affirmative action, notably leading the landmark Grutter v. Bollinger case. His academic contributions are complemented by institutional innovations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute and the Data Science Institute. Bollinger has received prestigious awards for his advocacy in civil rights and educational equity, including the Clark Kerr Award and Alexander Hamilton Medal. Education B.S., University of Oregon, 1968 J.D., Columbia Law School, 1971 His research focuses on constitutional law, free speech, and higher education policy. He has pioneered interdisciplinary academic programs and global partnerships while championing affordability and diversity in university admissions. Bollinger’s leadership extended to infrastructure development, including award-winning sustainable buildings like the Manhattanville campus and the Vagelos Education Center at Columbia’s Medical Center. His recent writings explore the intersection of universities, free speech, and authoritarianism, reflecting his ongoing commitment to academic freedom. Major grants and initiatives under his tenure include the Columbia World Projects and the revival of Columbia’s intercollegiate athletics program. His legacy encompasses over 10 authored/co-edited books and extensive media engagement, addressing contemporary legal and societal challenges. Bollinger currently teaches courses on free speech at Columbia Law School while maintaining roles in public policy and governance.
Michael Hardt serves as Professor of Literature at Duke University and Professor of Philosophy at The European Graduate School (EGS). His academic career bridges political philosophy and literary theory, with primary affiliations in Duke's Department of Literature within Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Research interests center on globalization , immaterial labor , communist theory , and biopolitical resistance . His work critically examines contemporary power structures through the lens of Empire, Multitude, and Commonwealth—the trilogy co-authored with Antonio Negri that redefined 21st-century leftist thought. Key contributions include theorizing affective labor, the commons, and horizontal political organization, particularly through analyses of movements like Occupy Wall Street. His publication trends reveal a consistent focus on challenging neoliberal capitalism and reimagining democratic structures . Early works engaged with Deleuze and Italian autonomism, while recent scholarship addresses crisis-era politics, education, and the reclamation of common resources. Articles demonstrate interdisciplinary reach across political philosophy, cultural studies, and critical theory. Hardt's academic journey began unconventionally: after a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College (1983), he shifted to Comparative Literature (M.A. and Ph.D., University of Washington). His activism during the 1980s Sanctuary Movement and Central American solidarity work deeply informed his theoretical development. Collaborations with Negri since the 1990s produced foundational texts analyzing global power as a decentralized 'Empire' network rather than traditional imperialism. His advisory work and institutional contributions include directing EGS lecture programs and participating in transnational academic networks. Current projects focus on love as political ontology and the 'common' as an alternative to capitalist property relations, continuing his exploration of radical democratic potential within contemporary global systems.
